Heel seat fitting machine



July 1,194? J. T. LANCASTER 2,423,149 v HEEL SEAT ITTING MACHIM:v I

sheets-Sheet l Filed septt 12., 1945 ult E )zz'sAttorney July'l, 1947.J. T. LANCASTER '4 l* HEEL SEAT FITTING MACHINE Filed Sept. l2, 1945 5Sheets-Sheet? [n ventola Jom T.' Lancez Ster' By zl'sAttorn ey I July.1, 1947. l J, T, LANCASTER I l2,423,149

HEEL SEAT FITTING MACHINE Filed Sept. l2., 1945?4 A5 Sheets-Sheet .3

i613 fee [n ven top JohnTLancaster .By his Att orney July 1, 1947' J. T.LANCASTER 2,423,149

- IfllEEL SEAT FITTING MACHINE Filed Sept. kl2, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 J.T. LANCASTER HEEL SEAT FITTING MACHINE July 1, 1947.

Filed Sept. 1'2., 1945 /nvntmv Jaim T Lancaster his Attorney PatentedJuly 1, 1947 UNITED N STATES PATENT OFFICE HEEL SEAT FITTING MACHINEJohn T. Lancaster, Newton, Mass., assignor to United Shoe MachineryCorporation,.Fleming ton, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey ApplicationSeptember 12, 1945, Serial No. 615,829

Claims. l

This invention relates to shoe machinery and is illustrated as embodiedin a heel seat fitting machine.

Various types of machines have been proposed for preparing the heel-seatportions of attached outsoles of shoes for the reception of heels. vInmost of said types of machines the heel ends of shoes of different sizesare located in diierent positions to be operated upon in the machines,with relation to trimming instrumentalities, by rather complicated andexpensive gaging mechanism.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a machine in whichthe rear ends of shoes of different sizes are located in the sameposition in the machine and which has trimming instrumentalities whichmay be moved into different operative positions so as properly to t theattached outsoles of shoes oi diiierent sizes thus positioned for thereception of heels.

With the above object in view and in accordance with a feature of thepresent invention, there are provided, in combination with a xed backgage and crease plates constructed and arranged to enter the rand creaseof a shoe, means comprising cutters or knives constructed and arent No.1,307,285, grani-.ed June 17, 1919, on an `application filed in thenames o'fV ISamuel J.

Wentworth and Frederick H. Perry, the'front and rear crease platesforming a U-shapedopening ,through which the central part of theheel-seat heelseattab formed by the illustrative machine,

ranged to form heel breast receiving shoulders on the outsole of theshoe and initially adjustable into different operative positionslengthwise of the shoe, a heel seat reducing or tab forming cutter orknife mounted for trimming movement lengthwise of the shoe, and meansfor varying the amount of trimming movement of said heel seat reducingcutter in accordance with the setting of said shoulder forming meanslengthwise of the shoe.

Before presenting the shoe to the machine, the heel breast line of theattached outsole of the shoe is established, after properly positioningupon the heel-seat portion of said outsole a heel to be attached to theshoe, by drawing a line across the outsole along the forward edge of thelip of the positioned heel. The shoe is presented to the machine, heelend first and bottom up, by the operator who forces the rear end of thecounter portion of the shoe against the fixed back gage and 'thenoperates a treadle causing right and left, pairs of front and rearcrease plates to be moved into the rand crease of the shoe untildepending abutments secured to the crease plates engage the counterportion of the shoe, the bac-k gage and the crease plates constitutingshoe positioning and supporting means.

The machine in many respects is similar to the machine disclosed inUnited States Letters Pat.-

the length and width of the U-shapedi opening formed by the creaseplates'may be varied. Variations in widthv of the U-shaped opening maybe effected by causing vright and left pairs of crease plates to bemoved toward each other as above described until depending flangesthereof engage the shoe counter, the width of which varies in accordancewith the size of the shoe. Variations in the length of the U-shaped'opening are effected by initially adjusting the front crease plateslengthwise of the shoe, together with carriers for the shoulderformng'knives, with relation to the rear crease plates until forwardedges of the front 4crease platesfalong which edges the cutting edgesofthe shoulder forming cutters move in making their shoulder formingcuts, are in alinement with the 'ends of the heel breast line previouslydrawn Vacross the outsole of the shoe. In making their shoulder formingcuts the knives, in accordance'with another feature of the invention,move inward and downward against the outsole, cutting 'movement of thecutters being limited by the engagement of stops,which areadjustablyfsecured to the knife carriers, with the upper'faces of thecrease plates, thereby insuring Vagainst thecutters moving below thecrease plates andfdamaging the shoe upper; l I

It is desirable that the cutting edgeof' the heel seat reducing cutterin making its 'trimming cut move 'forwardto the 'forward edges of thefront crease plates, which edges, as above stated, are moved intoalinem'ent with the heel 'breast line drawn on'the outsole. With theAforegoing in view and `in accordance with a Vfurther feature platesirrespective of the lengthwise setting of said plates. Such action iseffected by setting a cam in different positions in accordance with thelengthwise setting of the front crease plates and the shoulder formingcutters, the arrangement being such that a driving connection betweenpowerdrlven meanseand therheelseatereducing knifeffis'irenderedinoperative;byo'mechanismlactm ated by the cam when the cutting edge ofsaid knife reaches the forward edges of said crease plates. As saidpower-driven meansis retracted it again becomes operatively connected'to 'the knife and moves the knifeibackdsosits retracted-or startingposition. After 'thmheelL-seatipoistiomof heel seat reducingknifenhavetbeenfemoved.part way back to their retracted positions', thesho`ulde1- forming cutters are operated as aboverexplaind to form theheel breast receiving shoulders.

.-,Ellhefvarious vfeatures -o thelinventiomfwill be i.understoodande-.appreciated from the following odetailemdescriptiorrreadin 'connection-withthe :taccompanyngldrawings;in-which Figs. 1,-'.2- and: 3.are, side, frontend.. planv Niews,

:respectivelyg partly. broken. awayffand partly. in

eisectinndof .theillustrative machine;

t oflaffportioriaof themachine, cutters ofwhich.- are 'iaintltheipnocess: of: :formingheel breastwreceiving eishouldersiuponi :the:attached..outsole fof a; .shoe

presente dato ,the machine Fig. 5a is a section on line Va--Va ofl-Fg.5, iillustratingeshoeeengaging abutments forming ;:paT-.tsiofethe::creasefplatesof the .il1ustrative.;ma

schine;

l Fig 651s a.'iverticalsectionfpartly broken.. away, :.forrzline-fVI-i-VIsof: Eigs; illustrating :mechanism through/which a.heelseatireducinglknife otthe g .maohine'isaoperate 'tfisianfexploded4view.,fslfiowing in perspeciiitive the vmechanism illustratediin Fig',,6

1;igs.ly 8. and. are. Vsectilonsxeun.elinesf57111;.VIIIeandIX-.eI-Xnfflifig: 1;

rFeg 1Q .showsmhe'aearfend of.-.A a shoerthe :heels'fseatgporton Mirthe.attachechoutsoleof :which is aabouaftosbettednbysthelzusemf,;thefillustrative nmachine tiand lfligilli-rshowsftm .shoe-.of Eig; 10laitertheheelr.-.seat portion of :its: outsolezhasbeenI operated upon YJoy.vitl-1e. illustrative.:machine.dorathe` .reoeption of a'flLouis't heel-itwhichefis shown:. in:phantomi. lines 5 positionedV orrtheiheelseat ofthe shoe.

The illustrative :ma-chine :issdescribedawith :refaerencef-to'reducingfthe heelaseat portion. 20. @(Figs. Stand, .1D)n.off. an. attached -outsole 2 2:V of i afshoe 24 infortheaeceptionfofna Louis-.heel 26 (Eig.` 11,);.and e.: comprises; .rightand'fleft; ,pairs' -of ffronb and rear preaseplates 18,? .(.Eigs.-f1;-3, lLand 5). movable tftowardfeach: other;4 :into .itherzrand:crease of' .the i;slioe,Y aftxed backggagezz (Figsr,2.5.3, Land 5)eengagedvbydthe reariendi oi'rthe counter; portion of the shoe and(3o-operating -fJwith-athescrease ;'plates.in,positioning'.:the.shoelfimthe` machine, a 'nbulger-or-a-olls:movablefforwardntmm:x a: rettractedspositionnshownin Figs;..1; 2, Stand.4;1r over iltheheel-sseat portiorrbf theoutsolezofthefposi..iaioneds-shoe and: constructed and arranged.- pro--'gressi-velytdepresslthelcentralspart..ofsaidheeleiseat 'portion.through a. Urshaped opening. -36 (Fig. 115)3 formed I by.rtheicreasefplatesfandiacutter or :skn'ifei-. ;(Figs.l,= 42,1 grand: 5)y-rwhich is movable vif-forward; itpgetherawith; the` froll; withits-'straight cutting edge 40 (Fig. 5) in engagement with flat uppersurfaces of the crease plates to split by a skiving cut ahorseshoe-shaped piece of surplus material from the heel-seat portion ofthe outsole.

thereby forming a heel seat tab 42 (Fig. 11) on 5 the outsole.

During retractive movement of the knife 38 and ;.the bulger Yiwbanktdtheir'rear, starting positions, aa..pair ofsshoulder formingcu'ttersor knives 44 are swung inward and downward from opposite .210s sides ofthe outsole 22 past forward edges 46 (Figs.

. 3, and 5).,of the front crease plates 28 to form heelbreast'receivingshoulders 48 (Fig. 11) upon the .-ou-tsole andrto sever from the outsolethe 'L'.horseshoeL-shaped chip split from the outsole by c the outsolehas been reduced and fitherollfadlfthefn151ftheiknife` 38.

The operative parts of the machine are mountd upon axed upstanding frame50, hereinafter :m'eferrd to as the main frame. The rear crease plates30 are securedby screws 52 (Figs. 1, 3, 4 maand..V 5)..to..slides54.which.. are.movable. at right g.anglesto a. vertical .longitudina1plane- 56A (Figs. 2, 3 and 5) of the machine along guideways58A.formed-iny brackets. (Si).- securedto .and vforming f vpart of. theAmainframe.' 50. Formed atthe. bot- 25: toms-of ftheslides 54 are rackgz'.(Fig. 4) vwhich are operatively..connected to..pinions 64 ttingin-slots, 66 .(Figs.. l,and.4)., of thebra'ckets Eiland rotatably.-mounted upon. horizontal. rvshafts 68 L whichextend throughdoores .T8.(Fig; 4), 'll4 (Figs. l. and3)...offthebrackets 60 andithemain framebosses 13, respectively, and are movable yforward and; rearward' to .a.limited extent. in said bores, -for purposes-whichlwillbe.explained-later. Mesh- `;ir 1g..withthe,.pinions..64.1are.a pair-.ofgear seg- 35...ments..l2.,.(Figs...1, Z-.and 4)..which are keyed to Y`horizontal shaftsl'M. rotatably -mounted .in bear- ,ings i6- (E'igs.-1,. 3.and..4),l78 (Fig..1),..re spec tively; 4of. thebracket. 68 .andthe main frame.. 50 and havingfsecuredtoy them. pinions-80 .(Eigs. 1-and. 3); operatively. connectedto racks- 82-..(Figs. f ll, 2-and-3)-secured by `screws 84 to -.the.. upper `.ends .o-ffa yoke B6 securedto. aslide B8 vertically `ref :iprocablein a verticalguideway ofthevmain,.framell.

Pivotallyconnected by apinSZAFigs.- ,1, 2 and 3) i toadependingfportionvof the yoke 8G -is a rod 94 arranged.inetelesoopic.relation with a hollow -rod liligs, 1:and-2)...the lower. .end ot-whichis. operativelyconnectedby.- a fulcrumnpin 98 -to the Arear end-.ofatreadle 1D0. aThefrod 95 is provided/with Vaiiange limandtherode-94,11%.secured-to.it a ...collan 58.4, andfsurroundingisaid rodsandinter- .posed:between.saidalangeand collar is astrong coilspring J86vthrough which upward pressure is applied to the rod 94 uponactuationf-of .the f=treadle .'I80 1'n, al..counterclockwise. directionas viewed-in fliiig.; 1. :The: treadleflili).r is` .pivotally mountedupona fulcrum pin'l and isvnormally Iheld .against van'adjustalolestopil!! by a-,spring w! l2 thelowerfend.,ofwhichis iixedxto a ,stud H4sisccuredito. the :mainilframe 5D@ and .theuppenend .rot-which issecuredto;v a' stud H5 y.carri'edby :the j yoke'.

Eachfofq the front4 creasepplates-ZS :is -slidingly 35..:mountedfortransverse movement .in-f a,l guideway f MiiE-igsl' andi) of. ablock`I2!) AE1/gs. `l,=2-and A) :havingfafdepending boss-into which-isthreaded stud A22 ;(Fig::4). ttingoin a-circumferential aslot. |24.formed Iin ...the fcorresponding'- shaft` 68. The :blocks .|281are.supported;1 against rotation :upon the shaftsifrespectively; by pins26 ..(Figs. 3, 4 and 5) Whichfareisecuredrto.the'brackets 6l).fandtslidinglyinfrecesses 128 .(Figs-..4 and 5) of theblockslZD.andalso by pinsfl -'(Figs:3 and 5) which are secured to the rear creaseplates 30 and the counter portion of the shoe.

lit slidingly in recesses `|32 (Fig. 5) of the forward crease plates28.. With the above construction it will be apparent that the frontcrease plates 28 are moved transversely together with and to the sameextent as their associated rear crease plates 39 and, through mechanismwhich will be hereinafter described, may be moved forward and rearward,that is, longitudinally of the machine, with relation to theirassociated rear crease plates. IIhe front and rear crease plates 28, 3|)together form a multipart platen and may be referred to as such. p

A forward portion |34 (Figs. 1, 2 and 8) of the treadle |99 is hingedfor lateral movement with relation to the rear portion of the treadleand has secured to it a tooth |36 (Figs. 1 and 2) which may be moved bythe operator into registration with any one of a plurality of teeth |38of a treadle retaining plate |43 to hold the treadle 'depressed when thefront and rear crease plates 23, 39 have reached their inward limits ofmovevment into the rand crease of the shoe, said limits of movementbeing determined by the engagement of depending abutments |42 (Fig. 3),|44 (Figs. 3 and 5e) adjustably secured to the front and rear creaseplates 28, 36, respectively, with the counter portion of the shoe.

In positioning work in the machine, the operator forces the rear counterportion of the shoe *24 arranged bottom up against the back gage 32while holding the heel seat portion of the shoe horizontal and stepsupon the treadle |69, causing the front and rear crease plates 28, 39 toenter 'the rand crease of the shoe, inward movement of the crease platesstopping when the abutments |42, |44 of the front and rear crease platesengage Further downward movement of the treadle |65 causes comlpressionof the spring i655, the operator then swinging the :forward portion |34of the treadle to the left, as viewed in Fig. 2, to cause the tooth E35of the forward portion of the treadle to be moved into latchingregistration with one of the teeth |33 of the plate i451, thus retainingsaid treadle in its lowered position.

'The lower portion of the back gage 32 lits in a slot |46 (Figs. 3 and4) of the main frame 59 and is clamped in a fixed position in said slotby a setscrew H43 (Figs. 2, 3 and 4) threaded into the back gage andpassing through an elongated slot |59 in the main frame.

It will be noted that the heel seat tab 42, the forward end of which isdened by the heel breast receiving shoulders 46, has approximately thesame outline as the U-shaped opening 36 (Fig. 5) which is formed bythecrease plates 28, 3D and through which the central part of the heel-seatlengthwise dimension of the U-shaped opening 36, to the forward end ofwhich opening the heel seatreducing knife 38 is moved by mechanismhereinafter described,

The distance between the fixed gage 32 and the rear end of the U-shapedopening is constantrfor shoes of different sizes, thelength of the Ushaped opening and accordingly the length of the heelseat portion of theshoe being varied as above stated by moving the front crease plates 28forward or rearward with relation to the rear crease plates 3U,mechanism which will be hereinafter described being provided for thispurpose.

In order to vary the lengthwise positions where the shoulder formingcutters 44 operate upon the outsole 22 of the shoe 24 in accordance withthe desired lengthwise positions of the heel breast receiving shoulders48, carriers |52 (Figs.` 1 to 5), to which the cutters 44 are secured,arei initially adjusted lengthwise of the U--shaped opening 36 to thesame extent as the front crease plates 28, the arrangement being suchthat the cutters 44 in making their shoulder forming cuts move past theforward edges 46 (Figs. 3 and 5) of the front crease plates and formshear couples therewith.

The shoulder forming cutters 44 are secured in channels |56 (Figs. 2, 3,4 and 5) of the carriers |52 by clamp screws |58 which are threaded intothe cutters and pass through slots |66 (Figs. 4 and 5) in the carriers,the heads of the screws |58 being forced against the carriers to retainthe cutters in their proper adjusted positions. Each of the carriers |52is mounted for free rotation upon its associated horizontal shaft 68 andis secured to the rear end of a spring |62 (Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 5) whichsurrounds said shaft and has its forward end secured to a collar |64fixed to the shaft. Also secured to the horizontal shaft 68 are gears|66 (Figs. 1 and 3) meshing with gear segments |68 keyed to sleeves |10(Fig. 1) which are rotatably mounted upon the lower horizontal shafts14.

In meshing engagement with teeth |12 (Figs. l and 3) of the sleeves |19are racks |14 the lower ends of which are secured to a yoke |16 screwedto a slide |13 (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) vertically movable in a guideway(Fig. 1) of the main frame 5D and carrying a roll |32 (Figs. 1, 2 and 9)tting in a cam groove |84 (Figs. 1 and 9) of a cam |86 secured to adrive shaft |38. The shaft |88 is operatively connected to a drivepulley |90 (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) by a one-revolution clutch I9?l which isactuated by a rod |94 connected at its lower end to the rear end of atreadle |95 fulcrumed upon a rod |91 (Fig. 1) secured to the main frame.

In order to move the front crease plates together with their associatedknife carriers |52 into different forward and rearward positions inaccordance with the desired length of the heelseat portion of theoutsole, there is provided a hand screw |98 (Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4) whichis threaded into the main frame 5D and has mounted'on it an upstandingyoke 20|] which straddles the right shaft 68 and fits in a circulargroove '202 formed between the right collar |64 and a bores by collars2|5 secured to said shaft.

effect the'proper-,adjustment ofthe front crease plates 28 and theshoulder rforming cutters 44, it is customary; beforey positioning theshoe in the machine, to placethe heel 26 to be attached to the shoeuponthe heel-seat portion of the attached outsole 22 of the shoe and todrawla line 216 (Fig. 10) across said attached outsole coincident l:withits heelbreast line. The shoe is then positioned lengthwseand vwidthwiseinthe machine; as above`described,fby the back gage 32andthefcrease'plates 28, 39,` the Ascrew |98 being rotated until Vtheforward edges 46 of the front crease-plates 28 are'inv alinement withthe heel breast line-2|6-:marked on the outsole. With the heel-seatportion 290i the attached outsole 22 of the vshoe thus supported-by .thecrease plates 28, Sie the shoulder forming cutters 44, when later movedalong theforwar-d edges V|16 of the front crease'plates 28;-will formthe heel breast receiving shoulder-s 48 which will coincide withopposite end portions ofthe heel breast line 216 on the outsole.v

The carriers |52 lforthe-shoulder forming cutters' i4 vare lprovidedwithy rearwardly extending lugs into which'are threaded stop screws 2|8constructedv and Aarranged toA limit, by engagement with the flatupper.surfaces ofthe front crease plates 28, the cutting movement of thecutters, the` adjustmentiof said stop screws being such that thecutti-ng edgesl k220 (Fig. 2) of the cutters do not move-below the frontcrease plates 28, thus insuring against cutting the shoe upper.

The bulger or roll 34 is freely rotatable in bores of levers 222 (Figs.1 to 6) which are mounted on a fulcrum pin` -224(Figs. 43 and 4) securedto an upstanding'boss of a slide 22S to which the heel seat'reducingcutter 38 -is securedby screws 228 (Figs. 1 andi). The slide'226-is-movable, through mechanism hereinafter described, along arectilinear guideway `230 (Figs. 3,'4 and 6) formed in the upper partofy a casting 232 (Figs, 2, 3,4 and 6) .mounted upon .the shaft 212 andon a shaft 234,= said .casting being held against movement lengthwise ofthe shaft 2I2 by collars 236 (Figs. 3 and .4) rsecured to the'shaftvZ l2and being held against movement lengthwise of the shaft 234 by a pinion238 Y(Figs.- 3 and 4) and an arm 239 (Figs. 3, 5 and 7) which, as willappear later, are securedto the shaft 234; The rear'ends ofthe levers'-222 are 'operatively'connected bya fulcrum pin ,12M-(Figs. 1, 3 and 4)to alink 242 mounted upon' a'pin |244 vcarried -by a `block 246 which ismountedA for sliding movement on the slide 226 and into which isthreadeda rod 258 slidingly supported in a bore-252 (Figs. 1 and 3) ofan upstanding-fboss of'theslide; The levers` 222 togetherwithwthellinkfi242form a toggle'which, w-hen the rollV 34and ythe knife 38 arein their retractedN positions Yshown in Figs. 1 and 3, is almoststraight by reason of thefact that the rear ends of. the levers Yengagea sloping face 254 (Figs. 2 andfl)` of `a `camplate -256 ofthemainframe, afspring 258 `(Figs.w 1,Y 3 and 4) surrounding the rod 250and positioned between the block 246 and the vupstanding: boss -ofthe'slide 225 then-being compressed and a head at the rear end of saidrod being 'spaced fromsad boss.

AsIthe knife vSli-'together-with the slide 226 is moved forwardr throughmechanism hereinafter described to split material from the heelsseatportion-129 of the 'attached outsole 22 of the shoe 24, the levers-222,when .permitted by the camplate 256,--.rotatefcounterclockwise asvviewed in Fig. 4 about thefulcrum pin 224-funder the actionof the"spring 258,v causingthe roll 34-to force the central partof theYheel-seat portion 2li-.ofthe outsole through the Ul-shapedopening..36,'. the straight cutting edge 40 of the knife 38 Which is inengagement with flat upper faces of the crease plates 28, 30 serving `tosplit by a skiving cut a U-shaped chip of surplus material from theheelseat portion of the outsole. The construction and arrangement of thetoggle and the cam plate 256 is such that the toggle is broken to permitthe roll 34 to be forced against the outsole just before the rollreaches the rear end of the U-shaped opening 36. During the retractivemovement of the slide 226 the toggle, acted on by the cam plate .256,again starts to close as the roll moves rearward of the U-shaped opening36.

In reducing the heel-seat portion 20 of the attached outsole 22 of theshoe, the cutter 38 moves forward to the corners 260 (Fig. 3)- of thefront crease plates 28 irrespective-of the longitudinal setting of saidplates, the extent of forward movement ofthe cutter being controlled bymechanism which will now be described and comprises a knock-off ordisconnecting device 262 (Figs. 6 and 7) which regulates the amount. offorward movement of the cutter in accordance with the longitudinalsetting of the front crease plates.

lThe heel seat reducing cutter 38,` as above stated, is secured byscrews 228 to the cutter slide 226 which is movable in guideways230-(Figs. 3, 4 and 6) of the casting 232 andhasa rack 264(Figs. 1, 4, 6and '1) operatively connected to a gear segment 266. The gear segment266 is loosely mounted between parts of thelcasting` 232 upon the shaft234 which is mounted for rotation in bosses 268 of the main frame.Formedintegral with the gear segment 266 is a depending drive arm 213.Mounted upon a fulcrum pin 212 (Figs. 1, 3 and '1) secured to the mainframe 50vis agear segment '214 having a rearwardly-projecting arm 216which is universally connected -to theupper end of a rod 218. Secured bya setscrew 280-to the shaft 234 and in meshing engagement with the gearsegment 214 is the above-mentioned pinion 238 which, during'each cycleofA operation of the m'achine, rotates the shaft-234through a fixed arcvin response to movement of the rod 218.

There is also secured to the shaft 234- byfa setscrew 284 theabove-mentioned arm 2394-in-a horizontal bore 288 (Fig. 7) in thelowerend of which slides a couplingl pin 290- which is constantly urged tothe left as viewed in Figs. Gand '7 by a-spring 292 and a tapered` end294 (Fig. 7) of which normally ts in a notch 296 formed in the dependingarm Y210 of the gear segment 266.

Freely rotatable upon the shaft 234is agear segment 298 operativelyconnected-to arack forming part of a plateY 302 secured bya'screw 304(Figs. 1, 3 v.and 6) to--a block'306-having a bore 308 through which theright horizontal shaft 68 passes, the shaft having lsecured .to it,infront of and behind -the block, va pair. oicollars 319 (Figs. 1 and3). With the abovey construction it will be apparent -that when theshaft 68-is moved lengthwise upon rotation of the screw |98 the block306, and accordingly the rack 300, will participate in such lengthwisemovement, with 'the result that the gear segment 298 is rotatedupontheshaft 234.

Formed integral with thegear segment 298-is a cam 312 (Figs. 6 and '1)'which-during-rotation of the shaft 234,l is `engaged by a vpin 3I4(Figs. 3, 6 and '1) slidable in a bore 3|6-(Fig. '1) ofthe arm 239.Secured tothe pin 3|4and extending through an elongated slot 3|8 in thearm 239 is a 9 stud 329 fitting between bifurcations of a lever 322fulcrumed upon a screw 324 threadedinto said arm 239. The lower end ofthe lever 322 is provided with a notch 326 in which fits a stud 328passing through an elongated slot 339 formed in the arm and secured tothe pin 299.

When the machine is at rest, the pin 299 engages the bottom ofA thenotch 296 formed in the depending arm 219 of the gear segment 266,causing the arm upon its driving movement in a counterclockwisedirection as viewed in Fig. 'Z to drive the slide 226 and accordinglytheheel seat reducing knife 38 forward. When the pin 3 4 duringcounterclockwise movement of the arm 239 engages the cam 3|2, it isdisplaced to the left as viewed in Fig. '7, causing the coupling pin 299to be withdrawn from the notch 296 and accordingly breaking the drivingconnection between the arm 239 and the gear segment 266. The gearsegment 298 and accordingly the cam 32 is set in a predeterminedposition inaccordance with the setting of the front crease plates 23,4the construction and arrangement being such that the driving connectionbetween the arm 239 and the gear segment 268 is broken or renderedineffective further to drive the knife 38 forward when the cutting edge49 of the knife reaches the forward corners 269 (Fig. `3) of the frontcrease plates 28.

When the coupling pin 299 is withdrawn fro the notch 296, it slides overa face 332 (Figs. 4 and '7) of the depending arm 219 and duringretractive movement of said arm drops back into the notch 296 and uponcontinued retractive movement causes the heel seat reducing knife 38 tobe moved back to its starting position.

The lower end of the rod 218 is operatively connected to the left end ofa bell-crank lever 334 (Figs. l and 2) which is mounted upon a fulcrumpin 336 supported by the main frame 39 and carries a roll 338 fittingina groove 349 of a cam 342 secured t the drive shaft |88.

In the operation of the machine briefly summarized, the operator, afterdrawing the heel breast line 2|6 (Fig. 10) across the attached out--sole 22 of the shoe 24, presents the shoe, heel end iirst and heel-seatportion up, to the machine, the rear end of the shoe engaging the backgage 32 and the heel-seat portion of the shoe being held horizontal. Theoperator then depresses the treadle |99, causing the front and rearcrease plates'28, 39 to move into the rand crease of the shoe 24 fromopposite sides of the shoe until the abutments |42, |44 of the creaseplates engage the shoe counter.

In case the forward edges 46 of the front crease plates 28 fail to lineup accurately withthe heel breast line 2|6 on the outsole 22 when theseparts are viewed from above, pressure on the treadle |99 is relievedslightly and the screw |98 is rotated until the forward edges of thefront crease plates are in proper alinement with said heel breast line.The treadle |99 is then again depressed, causing the abutments |42, |44to be clamped against the shoe counter, lfurther de-'i pression of thetreadle causing the spring |96 to be compressed and accordingly afollow-up pressure to be exerted against the shoe counter by saidabutments. The treadle |99 is then locked in itsA operative position byswinging the tooth .|36 of the forward portion |34 of the treadle to theleft as viewed inFig. 2 into engagement with one of the teeth |38 of theretaining plate |49.

With theshoe thus positioned and clamped in the machine, the treadle |96is depressed, causing the one-revolution clutch |92 to be tripped, withthe result that the roll 34 and the heel seat reducing knife 38 moveforward to split the heel seat tab 42 (Fig. 11) from the outsole. Whenthe roll 34 andthe knife 38 have moved about half way back to theirretracted positions, the shoulder forming knives 44 move inward anddownward past the forward shear edges46 of the front crease plates 28 toform the heel breast receiving shoulders 48 upon the outsole 22 and tosever from the outsole the horseshoe-shaped chip split from the outsoleby the heel seat reducing knife 38. As above explained, the heel seatreducing knife 38 always moves to but not substantially beyond theforward inner corners 269 of the front crease plates 28 irrespective ofthe lengthwise setting of said plates. When the heel seat reducing andshoulder forming knives 38, 44 have moved back to their retractedpositions and the machine has come'to a stop, the operator releases thetreadle |89, permitting the right and left pairs of front and rearcrease plates 28, 39 to move away from each other back to their idlepositions, shown in Fig, 3, and removes the shoe from the machine.

Although the invention has been described with reference to preparingthe heel seats 29 of outsoles 22 of shoes 24 for the reception of Louisheels 26, it will be apparent that by replacing the front and rearcrease plates 28, 39 as Well as the shoulder forming and heel seatreducing knives 4-4, 38 with corresponding'parts of slightly differentshapes, the heel-seat portions of outsoles may be prepared for thereception of Cuban heels.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. In a heel seat fitting machine, a fixed back gage, crease platesconstructed and arranged to enter the rand crease of a shoe, meanscomprising cutters constructed and arranged to form heel breastreceiving shoulders on the outsole of the shoe and initially adjustableinto different operative positions lengthwise of the shoe, a heel seatreducing knife mounted for trimming movement lengthwise of the shoe, andmeans for varying the amount of trimming movement of said knife inaccordance with the 'setting of said shoulder forming means lengthwiseof the shoe.

2. In a heel seat fitting machine, means comprising a back gage forpositioning a shoe provided with an attached outsole having a heelbreast line marked thereon, means co-`operable with said back gage inmeasuring the heel seat of the shoe lengthwise, a heel seatreducingjcutter movable lengthwise of the outsole, and means for varyingthe extent of movement of the cutter in accordance with the setting ofsaid measuring means.

3. In a heel seat fitting machine, a multipart platen constructed andarranged to engage in a rand crease of a shoe, means for adjusting oneor more parts of the platen relatively to the other parts, apower-operated cutter movable along said platen to reduce the heel-seatportion of an outsole of the shoe, and means for automatically varyingthe amount of movement of the cutter in accordance with changes in theadjustment of said one or more parts of the platen.

4. In a heel seat fitting machine, a plurality of crease plates whichform a U-shaped opening and one or more of which are adjustablerelatively tothe-others tovary the shape of said opening, meansfor'for'cing the central part 'of the' heel-seat portion of anattachedoutsole of ashoe through! the U-shaped opening, av poweroperatedcutter movable lengthwise of said opening'to reduce vthe heel-seatportion `of the outs'o'le,'and means responsive to movement of said oneormore crease plates for automatically varying theV amount of movementof said cutter in accordance with Achanges in the adjustment of 4Saidone or more crease plates.

5f In a heel seat fitting machine, a fixed back gage for positioning ashoe lengthwise in the machine, vmeans'for supporting the heel-seatportion 'ofen attached outsole of the shoe, a `power-operated cutterwhich is movable for- Ward yalong said-outsole of the p-ositioned shoeto reduce lthe heel-seat portion of said outsole, and means forautomatically varying the length of theheel seat reducing stroke of thecutter in accordance with the desired length of the re- 'duced heel seatto be formed on the outsole.

""GIn aA heel `seat `tting machine, frontv and rearfplatesr constructedand arranged to'enter the randcrease of a shoe, a'power-opera'ted heelseat reducing cutter movable in a pathialong said plates-means yforadjusting the front crease irilatesV relatively to the rearv creasevplates length- 'wise of said path, and means for automaticallyvar'vingthe extent of movement of the cutter along s aidp'ath inaccordance with the setting Y'of said front' creasepl'ates.

backgage co-operating with'the crease plates inF positioning a shoehaving an attached outsole,. a heel seat` reducing' knife movable in arectilinear path toV reduce the heel-seat, portion of the outsole of theshoe, "means for adjusting the front pair of crease.r plates'lengthwiseof said path' with relation tothe rear pair of crease plates, Vand'meansresponsive' to 4adjustment of the/front crease plates lengthwise of thepath of movement of the knife for varying the extent of'movement of theknife along saidvpath.

8. InV a heel Vseat tting'machine, means for positioning ashoe having anattached outsole, shear couples for forming heel breast receivingshoulders upon said outsole, power-operated means for `reducing theAheel-seat portion of the outsole of the shoe, mechanism for moving theshear couples into different adjusted positions lengthwise of the shoein accordance with the desired positions at which the shear couples areto operate upon the outsole, and means respon- 'sive to movement of saidmechanism for auto- 'matioally varying the operation of the heel seatreducing means.

9. In a heel seat tting machine, a pair of rear crease plates, a pair offront crease plates, said creaseV plates'being constructed and arrangedto form an opening, means for moving the rear 'crease plates toward andaway from each other,

dowel pin connections between eachof the rear 'crease plates and itscorresponding front crease plate' for causing movement of the rearcrease plates 'toward and away from each other to eiect a likev amountof movement, of the kfrontcrease plates" toward and away from eachother,and

' means for moving the front crease plates intoy dif-v 'ferent adjustedpositions toward and away'from 'crease lof'N a shoe, 'cutters'inovable'inwardY from opposite sides ofthe shoe and toward the bottom of the shoefor forming heel' breast receiving shoulders upon the outsole of theshoe, andstops movable together with the cutters and constructed andarranged to engage the platen to limit movement of the cutters towardthe shoe.

.11. In a heel seat iitting machine, means comprising crease plates forpositioningv a shoe'having an attached outsole, knives movable'inwardfrom opposite sides of and toward the heel-seat portion of the shoe toform heel breast receiving shoulders upon the outsole of the shoe, meansfor yieldingly operating said knives, and stops movable with said knivesand constructed and arranged to engage the crease plates to limitshoulder forming movement of the knives.

' 12. In a heel seat fitting machine, a platen constructed `and arrangedto enter the vrand crease of a shoe, a pair of shafts, a pair ofcarriers loosely mounted upon the shaftsI a pair' 'of knives adjustablysecured to the carriers, yieldable driving connections between theshafts-and associated carriers, power-operated means for rotating saidshafts to cause said knives 'to form heel' breast receiving shouldersupon anA attached outsole ofthe shoe, and stops movable together withthe'knives'and the carriers and constructed and arranged to engage theplaten to limit movement of the knives toward the shoe.

13. In a heel seat tting machine, a 'pair of crease plates havingforward shear edges,v knives which are movable inward fromopposite sidesof a shoe positioned in the machine along said edges `0i the creaseplates to form heel breast receiving shoulders upon an attached outsoleof said shoe, and stopswhich are movable .together with the knives andare constructed and' arranged -to engage the crease plates to limitshoulder forming movement of said knives.

14. In a he'el seat fitting machine, a fixed-back gage, a platenconstructed and arranged to enter the rand crease of a shoe having anattached outsole and yto co-operate with theback gage in positioningsaid shoe in the machine, said platen comp rising apair ofcrease plateshaving forward shear edges, knives which are movable vinward fromopposite sides of the shoe along said edges to form heel breastreceiving shoulders lon said out sole, means for moving the knivestogether with the crease plates into different-operative-positionslengthwise of the positioned shoe to aline the forwardedgesofthe crease plates with afheel breastline marked on the outsole oftheshoe, and

' prising afxedback gage for positioning ashoe having an f attachedoutsolef shear couplesfor forming heel breast receiving 'shouldersuponsaid outsole'means for' moving the shear couplesjinto different adjustedpositions lengthwise of vtheshoe toA cause said couples to operateattheheelbreast llines offoutsolesof 'shoes of different` sizes, apower-operated knife movable lengthwise of the Ashoe tov reduce *thevheel-seat portion thereof,y and mechanismmovable'in response toadjustment` of rthe shear couples lengthwise 'of' the shoe for l breastline, ofv the-outsole' of the shoe being-operated'upon irrespective' of'the adjusted position causing'the knifeY to move forward-to the' heelof the shearA coupleslengthwise of the shoe.

16. Ina heel seat fitting machine; axed'A back gage constructed and'arranged to position lengthwise a shoe having an attached outsole, aplaten comprising pairs of front and rear crease plates forming aU-shaped opening, means for moving associated pairs of front and rearcrease plates toward each other to cause said plates to enter the randcrease of a shoe in order to position widthwise said shoe in engagementwith said back gage, means for bodily moving the front crease platesinto different adjusted positions lengthwise of the shoe to vary thelength of said U- shaped opening and to aline forward edges of the frontcrease plates with a heel breast line drawn across the outsole of theshoe, and power-operated means for reducing the heel-seat portion of theoutsole and for forming heel breast receiving shoulders on said outsoleto provide a heel seat A tab.

17. In a heel seat fitting machine, opposite pairs of front and rearcrease plates forming a U- shaped opening and constructed and arrangedto enter the rand crease of a shoe, a xed back gage for positioning ,theshoe lengthwise in the machine and for co-operating with said creaseplates in positioning the shoe widthwise in said machine, a pair ofshoulder forming knives movable along the forward edges oi the frontcrease plates, said front crease plates being mounted for bodil7adjustment lengthwise of said shoe to vary the length of the U-shapedopening, said knives being adjustable lengthwise of the shoe togetherwith associated front crease plates to maintain the same relativerelation of the knives with said plates irrespective of their lengthwiseadjustment, and power-operated means for reducing the heel-seat portionor an outsole of the shoe and for co-operating with the shoulder formingknives to form a heel seat tab on said outsole.

18. In a heel seat fitting machine, a Xed back gage for positioninglengthwise a shoe having an attached outsole, front and rear creaseplates constructed and arranged to enter the rand crease of the shoe,shoulder forming knives movable inward from opposite sides of saidoutsole, means for moving the front crease plates and associated knivesinto different adjusted positions lengthwise of the outsole inaccordance with the position of a heel breast line on the outsole, aknife movable lengthwise of and forward along the outsole to reduce theheel-seat portion of the outsole, and means for moving the heel seatreducing knife different distances lengthwise of the outsole inaccordance with the lengthwise setting of the front crease plates andthe shoulder forming knives.

19. In a heel seat fitting machine, front and rear crease platesconstructed and arranged to enter the rand crease of a shoe, a heel seatreducing knife which is provided with a cutting edge and is movable in apath extending along said plates, means for adjusting the front creaseplates lengthwise of said path with relation to the rear crease plates,a cam movable into different positions in response to movement of thefront crease plates into diierent positions lengthwise of said path,power-operated mechanism for moving the knife in one direction in saidpath to trim material from the heel-seat portion of an outsole of theshoe, and means actuated by said cam for rendering said mechanismineffective to drive said knife further in said one direction when itscutting edge reaches a predetermined position with relation to the frontcrease plates.

20. In a heel seat fitting machine, means for positioning a shoe havingan attached outsole, shear couples for forming heel breast receivingshoulders upon said outsole, means for moving the shear couples intodifferent adjusted DOSORS lengthwise of the shoe to cause said couplesto operate at the heel breast lines of outsoles of shoes of differentsizes, a knive movable in one direction lengthwise of the shoe to reducethe heel-seat portion thereof, a cam movable into different positions inresponse to movement of the shear couples into different adjustedpositions lengthwise of the shoe, power-operated mechanism for drivingthe knife in said one direction, and means actuated by said cam forrendering said mechanism ineffective to drive said knife further in saidone direction when a cutting edge of the knife reaches the heel breastline 0f the outsole.

JOHN T. LANCASTER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,757,219 Ricks et al. May 6,1930 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 7,721 Great Britain 1904525,815 Great Britain Sept. 5, 1940

